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As the 28th annual WNBA draft came to a close April 14 at The Shed in New York City, the lottery picks went largely as anticipated — but the real drama unfolded later, with international talents and notable omissions promising to reshape the league’s future.
The Dallas Wings took advantage of their first overall pick, securing the University of Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers, a standout guard who led her team to a national championship earlier this month. Bueckers’ renowned playmaking skills and strong leadership are expected to be instrumental to the team’s success next season.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) took the number one spot in terms of quantity of players drafted, with 10 players selected this year. Following the SEC was the Big Ten, who had seven players selected, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with six and the Big 12 with five.
Notably, five overseas players who didn’t compete in U.S. college basketball were selected, three of whom were chosen in the first round. As the No. 2 pick, the Seattle Storm selected France’s Dominique Malonga; at No. 5, the Golden State Valkyries chose Lithuania’s Justė Jocytė; as the No. 10 pick, the Chicago Sky welcomed Slovenia’s Ajša Sivka.
Malonga will bring a unique combination of size, agility and international experience to the Valkyries. After playing professionally in Europe for four years, Malonga competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics where she helped lead her team to a silver medal.
The Golden State Valkyries took part in their inaugural draft this year, selecting Jocytė — who will become one of the youngest players in the league — in a move that highlights an increasing dedication by both the team and the WNBA to global talent.
The NBA Draft — set for late June — is expected to feature a similarly strong international presence, with at least 10 international players projected as first-round prospects and another dozen contending for second-round selections. As basketball continues to evolve into a truly global sport, both the NBA and WNBA have actively expanded their international reach, embracing talent from across the world.
Returning to this year’s WNBA draft picks, Hailey Van Lith of Texas Christian University (TCU), who was selected 11th overall, will soon reunite with Louisiana State University (LSU) teammate Angel Reese in Chicago. This pairing’s on-court chemistry is expected to strengthen the Sky’s backcourt dynamics next season.
Some controversy, however, led another top prospect, TCU’s Sedona Prince, to go undrafted this year. Despite her talent and past accolades, the former TCU and University of Oregon center faced multiple abuse allegations in February, a factor that likely influenced teams’ decisions not to draft her.
Two former girlfriends have accused Prince of domestic violence, one of whom spearheaded a petition to have Prince removed from her college basketball team. Prince has denied all allegations made against her, claiming she has never “abused anyone in her life, whether mentally, emotionally or physically.” The TCU center played well through the NCAA tournament this season, averaging 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3 blocks per game. Nonetheless, Prince’s performance couldn’t draw attention away from the months-long scandal.
The draft also underscored just how competitive the WNBA landscape can be. With only 156 roster spots across 13 teams, even highly skilled players face long odds. Being drafted does not guarantee making a team in the WNBA, even with added expansion teams like the Golden State Valkyries.
This roster size limit will be especially problematic for the teams that had the most picks this year; both the Dallas Wings and the Washington Mystics drafted five new players. Rookies will have a chance to make an impression in training camps with the hopes of securing a final roster spot ahead of the season’s May 16 start. However, for some players, being waived quickly could actually be a blessing, allowing them to find better fits with other franchises sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, the league’s new faces will bring more than just talent to the court. They bring branding power and built-in fan bases that will aid the growing momentum of the league. Bueckers’ new deal with Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s league, is just one example of how NIL-era stars are redefining what it means to be a professional athlete — and how to capitalize on lucrative opportunities in the off-season.
As the 2025 WNBA season approaches, the league stands at the intersection of change and momentum. From the rise of international talent to the growing commercial presence of players like Bueckers, this year’s draft signals a new league on the horizon: expanding its reach, vying for new audiences and ushering in a fresh generation of stars poised to shape the future of women’s basketball.
